Figure toy



Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES LOUIS MARX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIGURE TOY.

Application mea March 21, 1923. serial No. 626,535.

l'o ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS MARX', a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Figure Toys. of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to a. toy amusement device, and more particularly to an amusement device adapted to be operated for simulating a syncopated or jazz drummer in action. f

The principal objects of my present invention may be said to include the provision of a toy amusement device in which a toy figure is providedwith a simulated drum outfit adapted to be mechanically operated to produce. a true and life-like simulation or characterization of a drummer playing a syncopated selection; the further provision of a toy amusement device of this nature in which is provided a toy figure adapted to be set in motion, the said figure being associated with a snare drum, a bass drum and a trap implement', all adapted to be coordinately operated by and with the movement of the figure to produce an action in striking resemblance to a natural drumming performance; and the further provision of a device of this character in which the parts are 'arranged in a pleasing and attractive fashion and operated in a simple maner to produce a neat' and inexpensive toy.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing-s which show a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the drumings, the toy amusement device of my present invention comprises generically the figure A, a drum outt generally designated as B associated therewith, all arranged on a stagef C, which constructionally may comprise a cover or closure for a casing D, the

-said figure being adapted to be set irnto'action by motor mechanism housed by the said casing D for the simulated rendition of a preferably syncopated or jazz drumming act.

In the preferred construction, the drum outfit B includes a representation of abass drum b, a simulated snare drum b', and a simulated trap implement, such for example as the cymbal device b2, the said drums and the trap implement being adapted to be operated by and'in harmony with the movement of the figure A.

For producing a harmonious and compact, as well as pleasing grouping of the parts of the device, the bass drum b is arranged on the platform C with the cylindrical body thereof resting in fixed position on the platform, and the figure A is arranged in the seated position on the said bass drum, the snare drum b being carried by the ligure A and located in a position to be operated by the movement of the hands of the figure, as will be detailed further hereinafter, the cymbal device b2 being arrangedras shown at the front end of the platform and in position to be operated bythe movement of one of the legs of the figure, as will lpresently appear.

For operating or beating the bass drum b,

there is provided a drum stick 10 movable in relation to the drum b, the said drum stick conveniently comprising a bell crank lever pivotally journalled in a depending bracket 11 fixed to the platform C, the lower arm 12 of the bell crank lever being adapted to be oscillated for producing an oscillation of the ried by the rock shafts 2O and 21 journalled in opposite sides of the figure, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

lo produce a life-like and natural simulation of a drumming action, the drumsticks 13 and 14 are moved in beating alternation on the drum 2), and to this end means are provided for oscillating the arms 17 and 18 in opposition or alternation, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l of the drawings, the said means preferably comprising the crank arms 22 and 23 which may be formed integrally with the rock shafts 20 and 21, the saidvcrank arms being relatively angularly spaced substantially 1800, so that when the crank arms are both moved in one direction the arms 17 and 18 are moved in opposition; For moving the crank arms 22 and 23, 1 provide a forked member 24 which is arranged for reciprocating motion in the body 19 of the figure, the said forked member terminating in the tincs 25 and 26 Which are looped at their ends for loosely engaging the corresponding loops of the crank arms, as clearly shown at 2? and 2S in the figures. Q

The cymbal device b2 may conveniently comprise pair of cymbals 29 and 30, the cymbal 29 being loosely attached to the stage or platform C, and the cymbal 30 being loosely attached to and carried by a foot 31 forming part of the loosely jointed leg` members 32, the upper leg member being mounted for rocking or oscillating movement on the pivot or shaft 33 Journalled in the body 19 of the figure, the construction being such that upon rocking or oscillating movement of the upper leg member 32, the cymbal device Will be operated.

For operating all the instruments in synA chronization and harmony, there is provided a motor mechanism in the casing D, the said motor mechanism preferably coinprising a spring motor 34 adapted to be wound or energized by a Winding key 35, the said motor being provided with an attached gear 36 for transmitting motion to a combined gear and pinion 37 fixed to a shaft 33 journalled in a suitable bracket 39 fined to the casing body, the said shaft being provided with a crank arm portion 40 which engages a loop 41 forming the bottom end of an operating rod 42, the said rod pivotally engaging' at its upper end a cross rod 43 Which is attached to the upper leg inember 32 at a point to the rear of the pivot or shaft 33 thereof, the bottom end of the forked member 24 also pivotally engaging the cross rod 43, as is clearly shown for example in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. By means of this construction, it will be seen that When the motor 34 unwinds, the operating rod 42 is reciprocated to oscillate the leg member 32 and to reciprocate the forked member 24 for moving the arms of the figure, the trap implement and the snare drum being thereby operated in synchronism. ln the preferred construction the drum stick 10 is also operated by the reciprocation of the rod 42, and to this end the outer end of the arm 12 of the drum stick is provided with a loop 44 which embraces the rod 42 and which is engaged by a member tif-:ed to the rod 42, the arrangement being such that When the rod is moved to ascended position, the drum stick 10 is moved out of engagement with the drum as indicated in Fig. 1; and when the rod is moved to descended position, the drum stick 10 moves to contact With the drum, as is shown for example in lfig. 4 of the drawings.

The motor mechanism housed by the casing D is preferably provided with astart and stop oevice, Which may consist of a system gee-ring generally designated as 45 conlprising gears oosely mounted on the shaft 39 and on sla t 47, the said gearing being' driven by the gear 37 for producing a multiplied .motion of a braking gear 48 which is adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a braking lever 49 for producing a stopping and starting respectively of the motor mechanism.

ln the preferred construction, there is provided a sounding element housed by the casing D, which sounding element is operated in synchronism with the musical instruments, the said sounding element preferably comprising a bell 50 which may be fixed to the bottom of the casing D and a bell hammer 51 rockably mounted on a shaft 52 in an upstanding bracket 53, the said bell hammer being gravitationally movable in Contact With the bell 50 and being movable out of contact therewith by n ins of an oppositely winged member 54 fiiledly carried by the shaft 38, tht` said Winged member rotating in the direction, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for eno'aging the arm 55 of the bell hammer lever It Will be noted that the arrangement the parts is such that the bell hammer trikes the bell twice in each revolution of he shaft 38, so that the bell is sounded at 'he alternate operations of the drum stick t) and the cymbal devices b2, these parts ing operated in alternation.

r operation of my toy amusement dethe vice will in the main be fully apparent from the above detaile-fil description thereof. lt Will be further apparent that l have provided a drumming toy in which a number of movements is produced to e'li'ect a' natural characterization of a syncopated or jazz drummer in action, all the movements being etectuated in a simple and harmonious fashion by mechanism Which may be produced at a` comparatively low cost. lt will be further apparent that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim: l

1..In a toy amusement device simulating a drummer in action, a support, a representation of a bass drum on the support, a ligure representing a drummer arranged in sitting position on the drum, means independent of said ligure for beating said drum, a simulated snare drum associated with the figure, means for beating the snare drum operated by movement of the ligure, and mechanism for setting the ligure in motion and for operating the firstl mentioned means in synchronization therewith to produce a simulated beating of the drums.

2. In a toy amusement device simulating a v drummer in action, a casing defining a platform or stage, a representation of abassdrum on the platform, a figure representing a drummer arranged on said platform in sitting position on the drum, means independent of said figure for beating said drum, a simulated snare drum associated with the figure, means for beating the snare drum operated by movement of the figure, and mechanism housed by said casing and having parts extending through said bass drum and figure for setting the figure in motion and for operating the first-mentioned means in synchronization therewith to produce a simulated beating of the drums.

3. A toy amusement device for simulating a syncopated or jazz drummer in action,

comprising a casing defining a platform or stage, a representation of a bass drinn on said platform, a drum stick movable in relation thereto, a toy figure arranged in sitting posture on said drum and provided .with movable arms, a representation of a snare drum associated with the figure, drum sticks carried by the arms and movable therewith in relation to the drum, a-ndmechanism including a member extending vertically from said casing connected to said arms and drum stick for moving the same in synchronized action to effect a simulated beating of the drums.

4. A toy amusement device for simulating a syncopated or jazz drummer in action, comprising a toy figure provided with arms movable in opposite` directions, a representation of a snare drum associated with the figure, drum sticks carried by th-e arms and movable therewith in alternation on the drum, a representation of a bass drum associated with the figure, a drum stick movable in relation thereto, the said figure being arranged in sitting posture on the bass drum, and mechanism including means eX- tending through said casing, bass drum and figure and connected to the arms and drum stick for moving said arms and said' drum stick in synchronized action to effect a simulated beating of the drums.

5. A toy amusement device ot the class described, comprising a casing defining a platform or stage, a representation of a bass drum on said stage, means for beating said drum, a figure representing a drummer having movable arms and a movable leg arranged on said platform in sitting position on the drum, the means for beating the drum being independent of said iigure, a simulated snare drum carried by the ligure, means for beating the snare drum operated by movement of the arms, and mechanism for setting the arms and leg on the iigurein motion and for operating said first mentioned means in synchronization therewith to produce a simulated beating of the drums.

6. A toy amusement device ot the class described, comprising a casing defining a platform or stage, a representation of a bass drum fixed on said stage, an oscillatable drum stick movable invrelation to the drum for beating the same, 'ay figure representing a drummer having movable arms and a movable leg arranged on said plat-form in sitting position on the drum, a simulated snare drum carried by the iigure, the said movable arms on the figure carrying drum sticks movable in relation. to the snare drum, and mechanism including a motor means housed by the casing for moving the said leg, for oscillating the said drum stick and for moving the said arms to produce a simulated beating of the drums.

7. A toy amusement device for simulating a Syncopated or jazz drummer in action, comprising a toy figure adapted to be set in motion, representations of a snare drum and a trap implement associated therewith, means for beating the drum and playing' the implement operated by movement of the ligure, a representation of a bass drum associated with the figure, means for beating the same, and mechanism for setting the figure in motion and for operating the said means to produce a synchronized playing of the drums and the trap implement.

8. A toy amusement device for simulating a syncopated or jazz drummer in action, comprising a vcasingdctining a platform or stage, a toy figure thereon adapted to be set in motion, representations of a snare drum and a trap implement associated therewith, means for beating the drum and playing the implement operated by movement of the figure, a representation of a bass drum on the stage associated with the figure, means for beating' the same, and mechanism including a motor housed by the casing for setting the figure in motion and for operating the said means to produce a synchronized playing of the drums and the trap implement.

9. A toy amusementdevice for simulating asyncopated or jazz drummer in action,

comprising a casing delining a platform or stage, a toy ligure thereon adapted to be set in motion, representations ot' a snare drum and a trap implement associateo therewith, means for beating the drum and playing the implement operated by movement oil the figure. a representation ol' a bass drum on the age associated with the figure, means tor beating the same, a sounding element in said casing, and mechanism lor setting the ligure in motion and i'or operating the said means and sounding element in synchronization.

l0. A toy amusement device oi the Aclass described, comprising a casing delining a platform or stage, a representation of a bass drum on said stage, means for beating said drum, a ligure representing a drumn'ier ar ranged on said platform in sitting position on the drum, the said ligure being provided with movable arms and a movable vtoot, a simulated snare drum carried by the ligure, drum sticks carried by the arms ot the iigure and movable therewith in relation to the snare drum, a trap implement,operate-d by movement or the said toot, and mechanism including a motor housed by the casing for operating the said means and tor setting the said figure in motion to operate the snare drum and the trap implement in synchronization therewith.

ll. A toy amusement device oi the class described, comprising a 'asing defining a platform or stage, a representation ot a bass drum on said stage, means for beating said drum, a figure represent-ing a drummer arranged on said platform in sitting position on the drum, the said ligure being provided with arms movable in alternation and with a. movable iioot, a simulated snare drum carried by the ligure, drum sticks carried by the arms ol' the ligure and movable therewith in alternation on the snare drum, a trap implement operated by movement oiitlie said foot, and mechanism including a motor housed by the casing for operating the said means and for setting the said ligure in motion to operate the snare drum and the trap implement in synchronization therewith.

l2. A toy amusment device of the class described, comprising a casing delining a platform or stage, a representation of a bass drum on said stage, means for beating said drum, a figure representing a drummer arranged on said platform in sitting position on the drinn, the said ligure being provided with movable arms and a movable toot, a simulated snare drum carried by the ligure, drum sticks carried by the arms of the ligure and movable therewith in relation to the snare drum, a trap implement operated by movement of the said foot, mechanism including a motor housed by the casing for operating the said means and for setting the saidtigure in motion to operate the snare drum andthe trap implement; in synchronization therewith, and a sounding element in said casingialso operated by said motor.

in a toy amusement device simulating a syncopated drummerin action, a toy ligure comprising a body hav-ingmovable arms, and a movabie leg, representations of a drum and an implement associated with the lioure, means lor beating the drum operatedby movement oi the arms, means tor playing the implement operated by movement or' the leg, and mechanism extending through the body or' the ligure connected interiorly. otthe ligure to saidarms and leg for moving he same.

la. A toy amusement device ot' the. class desci'bed, comprising a casing defining a plattform or stage, ay toy figure including a body having movable arms and a movable arranged in sitting posture on said stage, representations ol a drum and an implement associated with thetigure, means ifo-r beating the drum and playing theI imment operated by movement oi the ligure, and mechanism extending throughthe body of the rigore and connected interiorly ofthe ligure to saidarms and-leg for moving'rthe same.

l5. A toy amusement device of the class described, comprisinga casing defining a platform or stage, a toy figure having a body, movable arms and a movable leg arranged in sitting posture on saidstage, a representation oi' a drum carried by the iigure, drinn sticks carried by the arms and movable therewith in alternation on the drum, a` trap implement associated With the ligure and operated by movement of said leg, and mechanism housed by the said casing and said body and connected to said arms and leg interiorly oi' the figure for moving said arms and leg in synchronization to produce a simulated playing ofthe drum and implement.

16. A toy amusement device for simulating a drummer in action, comprising a toy figure, said ligure being provided With a body and with arms oscillatable in alternation thereon, a. representation of a drum associated with the ligure, drum sticks carried by the arms and movable therewith in alternation on the drum, and means for oscillating said arms comprising a pair of crank arms arranged in opposition Within said body and connected respectively to said oscillatable arms, and a forked member connected to said crank arms and reciprocable within the body of the ligure.

17. A toy amusement device for simulating a drummer in action, comprising a casing, a toy figure thereon, said figure being provided with a body7 and with arms oscillatable in alternation thereon, a representationv of a drum associated with the gure,

drum sticks carried by the arms and movable therewith in alternation on the drum, and means for oscillating said arms comprising a pair of crank arms arranged in opposition Within said body and connected respectively to said oscillatabie arms, a forked member connected toy said crank arms and reciprooable Withinv the body of the figure and a motor housed by the casing for reciprocating said forked member. v

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of March, A. D. 1923.

LOUI

s MARX 

